NEWMARKET — A vocal block of Newmarket parents helped lead the charge to add $70,000 back into the school district’s budget Saturday during the town’s deliberative session.

Residents also weighed in on warrant articles asking for approval of new contracts for police officers and teachers, money to develop the Macintosh Well and authorization for a $14.1 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade.

The first article on the school warrant asks voters to approve the fiscal 2014 budget. The school board had proposed a $14.8 million operating budget — an increase of 2.84 percent over last year.

The figure was reduced in January by the municipal budget committee, which cut $70,000 from the figure. School Board members were in opposition to the new budget, after already proposing a plan that cut the equivalent of 5.5 staff positions.

Newmarket resident Amy Rocci, a teacher who also has two children attending local schools, opened the budget discussion at Saturday’s deliberative session by proposing an amendment to reverse the $70,000 cut.

“I can’t imagine where that’s going to come from, and what negative effects it will have on our children,” Rocci said.

Rocci argued that Newmarket teachers earn salaries that average between $9,000 and $20,000 less than teachers in the highest paying comparable districts. She said the district is facing the prospect of cutting paraprofessionals and one special education coordinator.

Resident Dianne LeBlanc was among those who also spoke in support of adding the money back into the budget. After moving to Newmarket with her husband and son several years ago, LeBlanc said she’s afraid a kindergarten enrichment program will be cut in the proposed budget.

Another resident asked for an estimation of the financial impact on taxpayers of the $70,000 in question. Town officials estimated a resident with a $250,000 home would pay about $25 more in taxes in the coming year.

Rocci’s amendment to restore $70,000 to the budget passed, increasing the overall amount requested in the warrant article — including federal funding — to $15,623,567.

Article 2 asks voters if they approve raising and appropriating $706,907 to set aside for a dual purpose fund created for construction of a new school building and renovation of the existing Newmarket Junior/Senior High School.

The school is in need of repairs by 2015 under an agreement with fire safety officials to come into compliance with safety codes. The money being requested would go into a capital reserve fund established in 2012.

In March 2011 voters approved $200,000 as the ﬁrst step in a four-year plan to address safety issues at the high school. The town appropriated $769,270 to the new capital reserve fund last year to pay for the second year of repair work. Article 2 asks for additional funding to pay for year three.

Newmarket resident Paul Dietterle was among those who questioned whether the money being requested for the school budget is being spent wisely. Dietterle pointed out that since 1984, his taxes have increased an estimated 400 percent. He asked voters to evaluate school costs and make a decision based on the interests of the community.

Resident Gail Durocher-Wentworth took an opposing view. She suggested that if the school is forced to close because of life safety violations, it will force residents to move away, decreasing the tax base.

“How much more are we going to take away from the community?” she said.

The third article on the school warrant asks voters to sign off on a new contract for school teachers.

The Newmarket School Board and the Newmarket Teacher’s Association ratiﬁed a new three-year collective bargaining agreement on Jan. 7, after a lengthy impasse. The agreement calls for combined salary increases of 6.9 percent over three years.

The contract negotiations drew to a close this year as Newmarket teachers also agreed to transition to a new health care provider. Teachers were previously enrolled in a contract under Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, which has been administered through the New Hampshire Public Risk Management Exchange. They were forced to begin reviewing the plan a few months ago due to changes in Harvard Pilgrim’s administration.

The town formed a Joint Health Benefits Study Committee to consider health-care options, with representation from the School Board, school administration and the teachers union. The group ultimately settled on switching to a plan from health services giant Cigna HealthCare.

School Superintendent James Hayes said the new plan maintains benefits at the same level for teachers, while reducing costs and also saving the district about $345,000. The savings in the first year would largely be used to compensate teachers, who would receive a 3.7 percent raise in the first year of the new contract, Hayes said.

On the town warrant, one of the most significant issues facing voters this year is an article asking to raise funds for a $14.1 wastewater treatment facility.

Newmarket has an antiquated wastewater treatment plant. It’s facing the prospect of designing and building a new facility to meet stricter new nitrogen discharge standards imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

An article authorizing the funds has been recommended unanimously by the Town Council and the Municipal Budget Committee. It requires approval from two thirds of voters in March to be adopted.

Also on the warrant this year is an article asking voters to approve issuance of $2.5 million for development of the Macintosh Well, to pay for electric service, wellhead development, piping and the purchase of land.

Residents rejected an amendment from Leo Filian seeking to cut the amount of money appropriated for the project to $865,000. The amendment failed on a 65-15 vote.

The town’s fiscal 2014 operating budget has been proposed at $9.1 million. If the budget is rejected, a default budget of $9.2 million from last year would go into effect. The Town Council could also hold one special meeting for the purpose of creating a revised budget.

In other town business, residents briefly discussed articles that will create a town revaluation capital reserve fund and a new charter commission. The revaluation fund would receive an appropriation of $40,000 in fiscal 2014.

If the measure passes, voters would then be asked to provide another $40,000 next year for the project. If it fails, the entire $80,000 needed for the revaluation will be requested the following year.